Prayers answered, as St. Mary's High of Worcester will remain open - Gate House

By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

December 07. 2013 7:38PM

Prayers answered, as St. Mary's High of Worcester will remain open

WORCESTER — The students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the community at St. Mary's Junior and Senior High School received an early Christmas present this weekend.

They learned that their small college preparatory school on Vernon Hill will remain open.

"I thank sweet Jesus and all the donors who are stepping forward," said the Rev. Thaddeus X. Stachura, in giving the good news to parishioners attending the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish on Ward Street, which operates the school. "The school will remain open. We are on good footing."

Rev. Stachura's words were met with many big smiles.

Students were told of the news on Friday during Ring Day ceremonies.

It was less than a month ago that Rev. Stachura, the school's headmaster and the parish's pastor, said that the Roman Catholic school would have to close because of the difficult financial times.

He said that parents could no longer afford the tuition and that they were pulling their children out of the school.

Since then, many have rallied to save the school, which was established more than 70 years ago by Polish immigrants seeking to better the lives of their children.

Stephen Quist, who is one of the leaders of the Save St. Mary's Schools group, said he believes enough has been pledged to keep classroom doors open for another year. The estimates for keeping the school open have ranged from $400,000 to $750,000.

SSMS is also interested in setting up an endowment that will keep the school financially viable for years to come. Group leaders have been holding ongoing discussions with a benefactor, who might be willing to make a significant contribution to the fund.

"We're headed in the right direction," said Mr. Quist of Worcester, whose daughter, Mary, recently graduated from the school, and whose son, Tyler, is a sophomore. "We have a lot of cards on the table."

Boosters and school officials are so confident of the school's future that they have scheduled an open house for Jan. 8.

According to Adam Cormier, a teacher, interested kids will be able to shadow students and parents will be able to meet with school officials and instructors at the end of the day.

An open house held last fall drew good interest, school officials said.

It was at the Masses on Nov. 16 and 17 that Rev. Stachura informed parishioners that the school would have to shut down.

He had discussed the matter earlier with Bishop Robert J. McManus.

When he made the announcement, Rev. Stachura told OLC members that the elementary school would remain open, although he noted that it, too, was on shaky grounds.

About 90 students attend the junior and senior high school, and about 90 students attend the elementary school.

A few days after notice of the closure was announced, Bishop McManus gave the upper school a reprieve, saying that boosters had until mid-January to come up with a plan to keep it open.

Mr. Quist said the group has reached out to 200 alumni for help and added that 1,000 have visited the organization's Facebook page.

He said various committees have been set up to not only keep the school open, but to keep it afloat for years to come.

They added that their efforts will now include helping to save the elementary school.

Mr. Quist said that a marketing committee is drawing up a plan in which the enrollment at both the lower and upper schools would be doubled in two years.

Boosters said they have also approached the College of the Holy Cross and Assumption College about providing some scholarship money so students could attend St. Mary's.

Mr. Quist also said SSMS group members have recently toured the school buildings to determine how much money might be needed to upgrade the facilities.

Raymond L. Delisle, a diocesan spokesman, said the group has been working with chancery officials, particularly William J. Mulford, associate superintendent for diocesan schools and a former Worcester city manager.

He said the ultimate decision about what happens to the schools rests with Rev. Stachura.

Organizers and diocesan officials said they are still working on specific plans to set up the endowment fund and the rules by which it would be operated.

Meanwhile, group members are reaching out to prospective students. For example, information about the schools will be made available in church bulletins across the diocese in coming weeks.

Mr. Quist said many individuals have already sent checks to the SSMS campaign. An in-house parish fundraising campaign has also been set up by Rev. Stachura, who, parishioners said, has quietly donated a substantial amount of his own money to the schools over the years.

A rally for the school is planned at 9 a.m. Thursday. Personnel from Worcester Fire Department Ladder Co. 12 are scheduled to participate, boosters said.